COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, May 26, 2025

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor L. Dunne

"To ask the Manager, to provide a clear outline of the scope of the works for Jobstown Community Centre, including timelines and specific upgrades planned, and commit to involving the Board in discussions to ensure these upgrades align with the needs of the centre and the community?"

REPLY:

The council commissioned a fire safety audit on the Jobstown Community Centre building, following the discovery of a series of non-compliant fire safety issues within the centre during a general maintenance inspection carried out by our maintenance contractor.  Some of these issues have arisen due to unauthorised works carried out within the centre, while others have a risen due to general wear and tear, operational issues and works undertaken in the 1990s which fall short of current regulations.

The fire safety report has been received and the issues identified are being translated by our Architectural Services Department (ASD) into a fully measured tender package, so that the works can be costed and tendered to a suitably qualified building contractor with experience in these areas. The proposed tender package is being assigned to ASD’s Quantity Surveyor (QS) in the coming week, so the works proposed are fully costed.

In addition to the necessary fire safety upgrade works required, ASD have also taken the opportunity to examine the potential for a series of fabric upgrade works to the facility, with the objective of assisting the Board with upgrades that will reduce the running costs associated with the centre and these potential fabric upgrade works are aligned to commitments within our  Climate Action Plan 2024, where the council is seeking to decarbonise their existing building stock including community centres. The scope of proposed works far exceeds the original scope of works requested by the Board, which explains the longer delivery period.

It is anticipated that cost estimates will be completed by the QS by the end June, these will then be reviewed by Architectural and Community Services to inform a decision on the potential scope of works and the required procurement strategy, all of which is dependent on available budgets.

We are fully committed to involving the Board in discussions to ensure the proposed upgrades are aligned to the needs of the centre and respective community. A meeting will be held with the Board to discuss the proposed works, gain their feedback and approval, before Architectural Services proceeds to issue tender for the upgrade works.

It should also be noted that regular updates have been given to the Board via communications through the Community Officer assigned as our representative on the Board, however, it was deemed prudent not to meet the Board with any detailed drawings until full costings have been fully determined and reviewed.